Reaching new heights

April 12, 2013

Updated Aug. 21, 2013 1:17 p.m.

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Santa Margarita's Kaitlyn Merritt is introduced at last season's CIF-SS Ford Masters Meet at Cerritos College in Norwalk. This season Merritt broke the county record, clearing 13-8 last week. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Santa Margarita sophomore Kaitlyn Merritt competes in the pole vault during last week's Arcadia Invitational where she set a national high school federation sophomore record, broke Orange County's all-time record, and set a meet record with a clearance of 13-8 to win the title. KATIE DEES, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Santa Margarita sophomore Kaitlyn Merritt celebrates after a 13-8 clearance in the pole vault during last week's Arcadia Invitational at Arcadia High. Merritt's personal record vault also set a national high school federation sophomore record, broke Orange County's all-time record, and set a meet record. KATIE DEES, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Santa Margarita pole vaulter Kaitlyn Merritt releases the pole after clearing the bar during the 2013 Triton-Asics Invitational at San Clemente High School earlier this season. In her two years at Santa Margarita Merritt has broken a number of school, county and national records. MIKE GREENE, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Santa Margarita's Kaitlyn Merritt smiles after one of her pole vault attempts during the 2013 Triton-Asics Invitational at San Clemente High School earlier this season. Merritt began vaulting in sixth grade and now as a sophomore own the Orange County record after a recent clearance of 13-8. MIKE GREENE, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Kaitlyn Merritt, shown here as a freshman last year, takes it in stride after unsuccessfully clearing a bar height of 13-3 at the Orange County Track and Field Championships at Mission Viejo High. She would later make that height to set a national freshman record. This season Merritt has claimed another national record, clearing 13-8 for the high school sophomore record. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Santa Margarita's Kaitlyn Merritt is introduced at last season's CIF-SS Ford Masters Meet at Cerritos College in Norwalk. This season Merritt broke the county record, clearing 13-8 last week. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Raising the bar on pole vaulting

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA – Kaitlyn Merritt has made a habit of flying, almost literally, above and beyond her competition.

The Santa Margarita pole vaulter is only a sophomore but when she cleared a new personal-best of 13-8 Sunday at the Arcadia Invitational she also set the meet, county, and sophomore national records.

"I knew it could be great that meet if everything lined up" Merritt said. "I had the confidence going in that meet and it definitely helped me. Obviously if you have confidence, if you believe in yourself it helps you get higher."

After clearing the 13-8 bar on her first attempt, Merritt hurried off the landing mats known as the pit, and into the arms of her coaches.

"It was so exciting," Merritt said. "I just ran off the pit, made sure the bar stayed up there."

With her main goal of the season checked off and two months of the season remaining, Merritt is setting her sights on the 14-foot mark. Crossing that barrier would put her in the top three female high school vaults nationally and threaten the California high school record of 14-1.

Mandie Rowell, the Eagles' pole vault coach, was a standout vaulter in her own years attending Santa Margarita and went on to compete at the University of Utah. A qualifier for an NCAA regional competition while in college, Rowell's personal best was 12-8.

"She's already a foot above me and she's a sophomore in high school," Rowell said. "She could jump with college athletes right now."

Rowell can't say enough about Merritt, calling her "fast, strong" and "your ideal athlete." In a sport that is so technical, Rowell says that Merritt's "technique is close to flawless," but adds there's always room for improvement over the next two years.

Even more than her physical skills, Rowell said Merritt's best attributes are her humble attitude and willingness to take coaching advice.

"She's just such a joy to coach," Rowell said.

Merritt works with a group of three coaches: Rowell at Santa Margarita as well as Kevin Magula and Sonny Doung on the Higher Flyers club team.

"My coaches are great, they taught me all I know," Merritt said. "It's nice being able to trust your coaches 100 percent."

Her introduction to the sport came in sixth grade after a patient at her father's office saw a picture of her, doing gymnastics, on the wall. He mentioned that if she ever got burned out or decided to stop gymnastics, she should try pole vaulting because many of the skills transfer over.

"I just loved it from the beginning," Merritt said, despite adding she initially "didn't even know what it was, I thought they did flips off the top of the pole."

As her interest in the sport increased so did the heights she was clearing. Merritt remembers the first time she attended the UCS Pole Vault Summit in Reno, Nev., as a turning point. As a seventh grader in Reno that year, Merritt broke a personal record, vaulting 10 feet for the first time and thinking, "Whoa, I can actually maybe be good at this."

Her freshman year at Santa Margarita, Merritt began taking down records, setting school and national freshman records as she crossed into 13-foot territory.

In addition to vaulting, Merritt also runs relays for Santa Margarita's track team. She and Rowell believe the track events end up helping her as a vaulter.

"It's nice because the 4x100 is a nice warm-up for pole vault and then the 4x400 is after so I don't have to worry about being tired for pole vault with that," Merritt said. "I think the endurance helps me."

With a score of county, state and national records cleared already, Rowell says that if Merritt can stay healthy over the next two years, "there's really nothing that is holding her back. She can go as high as she wants to."

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